Organizing Checklist for February

January was a busy month. The aftermath of the holidays and the beginning of a new year creates much activity. February is not so hectic and should allow time for creativity to chase away the frigid temperatures. This month’s focus will be on the Books, DVDs, Cookbooks and Hobbies.
Reminders for Each Week (can include the new organizing strategies for this month)
• Remove one bag of items
• Eliminate one hour of electronics
• Clean and organize one drawer
• Clean and organize one cabinet or closet
• Remove back issues of catalogues, magazines and newspapers.

• If you have not done so already, clean out the file folders, update the yearly budget, and shred unwanted financial papers. Only this year’s information and legal documents should be kept in your nearby reference files.

• Clear the bookshelves of fiction you have already read and reference books. It is unlikely you will reread fiction and reference books become outdated quickly. Use the Internet to keep up to date on those topics.

• Cull the cookbook collection and consider online sites for new recipe ideas. Save only those with recipes you continually use or those with sentimental value.

• Sort through videos and CDs and remove those no longer used. Let’s face it, if you haven’t run them in the last couple of years, you probably will not. Our tastes in music and movies change over the years. Sell or pass them on to someone who wants them.

• Make the most of indoor time by finishing up indoor decorating projects and/or enjoying time on indoor hobbies. Sort through your supplies and remove those no longer useful. For more details on organizing hobbies and crafts, here is a link to my notes on it. http://organizingtipsfromorderlyplaces.blogspot.com/2009/08/crafting-can-get-crazy.html

• Begin planning for early spring activities. Buy seeds, sharpen garden and lawn tools.

• Make preliminary plans for spring or summer vacations. Early reservations are usually less expensive. Insure all travel tickets.

Stay warm.  This cold weather has to end sometime!

November Organizing Tips

The holiday season has arrived and it is time to get busy.  Here are the organizing items that should be done in November.
1.  Purchase and address holiday cards now.  They should be ready to mail by the end of the month.
2.  Review or create the gift list so you can take advantage of sales on those items.  Look for free shipping offers if ordering online.  This method also saves time and money in the long run.
3.  Mail out of town packages by the end of the month.  Overseas packages may have earlier deadlines.
4.  Send out invitations for Thanksgiving Dinner as soon as possible.  Create a menu, grocery list and time schedule for that meal.  If you are not inviting guests, create those for yourself.
5.  Save lists, names, addresses, gifts, menus, grocery lists and any other related items in folders for reference next year.  Make notes as detailed as possible to save time in the future.  These can be saved as documents in folders on your computer or as paper files in folders by categories in your file box or cabinet.
6.  Avoid the Black Friday and after Thanksgiving sales unless you vow to stick to your gift list.  Otherwise clutter may become a holiday issue you do not need.